Seminole Tribe wins slots battle

2008-04-15 14:17:04

Florida's Seminole Tribe has been permitted to operate slot machines at its seven casinos across the state.

A number of electronic bingo games at Tampa's casino - the largest in the sunshine state - will gradually be replaced by new slots over the coming months. The process is scheduled to begin in April before 725 new machines are publicly debuted on May 1st.

The St Peterburg Times reports that casino president John Fontana hopes to have 1,675 slots set up in the Tampa location by the end of May, which will constitute more than half of the total number of machines at the venue.

Governor Charlie Crist signed a deal with the Seminole Tribe - approved by federal officials in January - to allow the slots initiative to go ahead. "It's exciting to not have to hold anything back and have all the tools in the tool box," Fontana told the newspaper this week.

In December 2006, the tribe purchased the Hard Rock chain for almost $1 billion, which included taking over the group's casinos, restaurants and hotels.